MONEY: MAXIMIZE YOUR BENEFITS TO OFFSET INFLATION

Employee benefits are one of the most attractive things about a prospective job and can determine whether you take an opportunity or leave it. When you do decide to take the job, do you maximize the benefits?

If not, you may be leaving money on the table. And in this time of high inflation, you need all the cash you can get to offset rising prices.

In the spirit of focusing on what you can control, let’s talk about employee benefits and how you may be able to use them to your advantage during these uncertain times.

KNOW YOUR BENEFITS

Before you can maximize your employee benefits, you have to know what they are, says Samantha Gorelick, a certified financial planner at Brunch and Budget, a financial consulting firm based in New York City.

“A lot of people don’t actually know how much their employer will match, or what their employer even offers in terms of 401(k)s, contributions to (a health savings account) or (a flexible spending account), or even short-term, long-term disability,” she says.

Gorelick says knowing what you have access to can affect your financial situation.

FYI, this also happens to be open enrollment season for some companies, so it’s a great time to understand your benefits better. Open enrollment provides a limited window for you to opt into the benefits you may not be receiving, evaluate your plan and its costs, and opt out of benefits you may no longer need. It usually takes place between October and January, depending on your company.

THINK ABOUT HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Assessing your healthcare options isn’t always the most glamorous task, but it can have financial perks.

For instance, if you realize you haven’t used many healthcare services in the past year and you’re relatively healthy, contributing to a healthcare FSA or HSA may be more cost-effective than paying a high monthly premium.